Middle Fork WMA Wildlife-Friendly Boundary Fence
Project ID: 7652
Status: Cancelled
Fiscal Year: 2026
Submitted By: N/A
Project Manager: Bradley Hunt
PM Agency: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
PM Office: Northern Region
Lead: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
WRI Region: Northern
Description:
This is a cooperative project between UDWR and Middlefork Ranch LLC to replace the fencing along our shared border with a wildlife-friendly fence.
Location:
The project is located on the southern boundary of the Middle Fork WMA that is shared with Middlefork Ranch LLC, just outside Huntsville, UT.
Project Need
Need For Project:
This fence will protect the WMA from trespass livestock and facilitate the movement of wildlife across the landscape while reducing the risk of fence related injuries and death to migrating wildlife.
Objectives:
Update the WMA Boundary fence to wildlife friendly fencing standards to better facilitate wildlife movement between the WMA and private property, in partnership with a working ranch that cares deeply about wildlife habitat and connectivity.
Project Location/Timing Justification (Why Here? Why Now?):
The project is located just outside of Huntsville, UT on the southern border of Middle Fork WMA. This project will replace a shared fence between UDWR land and a private landowner. The landowner grazes cattle and this wildlife fence will reduce trespass risk to the WMA while permitting safer fence crossing for migrating wildlife which are using the area.
Relation To Management Plan:
(Secretarial Order 3362, US Department of the Interior: Improving Habitat Quality in Western Big Game Winter Range and Migration Corridors). Utah's Mule Deer Statewide Management Plan outlines the goals, objectives, and strategies, including "conserve, improve, and restore mule deer habitat throughout the state with emphasis on crucial ranges."
Fire / Fuels:
Fence line clearing has been taking place on the private side of the fence during the current winter months as weather has permitted. The timing has been iomportant in mitigating fire risk.
Water Quality/Quantity:
N/A
Compliance:
Methods:
UDWR will share this project with the neighboring landowner by providing 50% of the material cost to the project. The old fencing will be removed. The fence line will be cleared of brush and other vegetation using machinery and a 4-wire wildlife-friendly fence will be built in its place. The new fence will be constructed with t-posts every 12' and a wooden dancer at 6' intervals. The wires will be spaced at 16" above ground level (bottom or 4th wire), 7" between the 3rd & 4th and 2nd & 3rd wires, and 12" between the top or 1st wire and the 2nd wire. The top and bottom wires will be smooth wire while the middle wires are barbed.
Monitoring:
Regular monitoring will be needed to verify the fence is being built to wildlife-friendly standards as described and that the fence continues to remain in good repair following its completion.
Partners:
Middlefork Ranch LLC
Future Management:
Ongoing monitoring and maintenance by UDWR staff and the neighboring landowner to keep the fence in good repair. The private landowner is a former Board Member of the Ogden Valley Land Trust and is interested in placing a conservation easement on the property.
Sustainable Uses of Natural Resources:
Maintaining a good working relationship with the neighboring landowner will be one of the most effective ways to encourage responsible use and will go a long way in the long term benefits of this project.
Budget WRI/DWR Other Budget Total In-Kind Grand Total
$25,000.00 $0.00 $25,000.00 $2,592.00 $27,592.00
Item Description WRI Other In-Kind Year
Other Fence installation: labor re-imbursement for section of wildlife friendly fence installation $10,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 2026
Materials and Supplies Smooth wire (top and bottom wire); barbed wire (middle); fenceposts; fence clips, for fence built to wildlife friendly specifications along 6400 ft $15,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 2026
Materials and Supplies The scope of the project is beyond the funding sought in Phase 1. The ranch is providing in-kind labor, equipment, and materials for other sections of the fence beyond the scope of this project. Davis-Bacon wage: $16.20 in kind x 80 hrs x 2 people $0.00 $0.00 $2,592.00 2026
Funding WRI/DWR Other Funding Total In-Kind Grand Total
$0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Source Phase Description Amount Other In-Kind Year
Species
Species "N" Rank HIG/F Rank
Elk R2
Threat Impact
Not Listed NA
Mule Deer R1
Threat Impact
Not Listed NA
Habitats
Habitat
Mountain Sagebrush
Threat Impact
Not Listed NA
Project Comments
Comment 04/03/2025 Type: 2 Commenter: Alison Whittaker
Will you finish and submit this proposal ASAP? This project is on the agenda for HC next week. I need to info for the spreadsheet before hand. Thanks.
Comment 04/03/2025 Type: 2 Commenter: Brad Hunt
We are working on it earnestly!
Completion
Start Date:
End Date:
FY Implemented:
Final Methods:
Project Narrative:
Future Management:
Map Features
ID Feature Category Action Treatement/Type
1336 Fence Reconstruction Barbed wire
Project Map
Project Map